Windows 7: Windows 7 license issue

Hi guys. I have a problem.

I recently purched a family 3 pack of Windows 7 home premium. I installed one successfully.

Then I installed another one on a laptop and got it activated... but then the laptop had a hardware failure and is no longer usable.

Is there a way I can use that license over since the computer is dead... or am I SOL and going to have to buy a new one? I didn't even get to use the computer a whole week.



Any suggestions are much appreciated. Thanks.

Provided the key will never be used on any other machine anywhere else again. You may have luck activating it on another system. You will more than likely have to use the call in feature to get the activation to pass though, and if it's used on another system configuration again after that they will most likely completely ban the serial.

Welcome
Unless it was an OEM key (you would know as the key would have the letters OEM somewhere in the array of numbers and letters) the rule is only one computer at a time. For your purposes, if it was removed from the first computer, you can install it on a second. In your case, since the computer is not usable and the OS cannot be removed, you can use it on a second computer. It WILL be activated even if phone activation is required.
Activate Windows 7 by Phone

You bought Windows 7 Home Premium Family 3 pack Upgrade version?

That's retail Windows 7 which means you can reinstall it as often as you want for life, as long as it is only on 3 machines at a time.

Just remember you need a qualifying XP or Vista OS which either came with each upgraded machine, or a retail XP/Vista you own and do not use again during the time it is being used to qualify for Upgrade version for each upgraded machine.

The qualifying OS does not have to be installed on the machine at the time you Upgrade:
Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

These are provisions of the EULA, enforced on the honor system.

I agree- the call in feature for activation does wonders. You should have no issues at all bypassing the activation.

Bill

I had a similar deal with my secondary machine, the key is from a dead laptop. I had to call it in the first two formats (I was experimenting and messed things up a couple of times) the third time it activated automatically like it should. As said the call in feature should fix your problem provided the key is not being actively used on another machine.

Hi there
if its a LEGAL copy you can get it re-activated on another computer -assuming you've already used the activations on other machines in the "3 activation" pack.

Just explain to MS you've got a new computer since the old one got broken and you can activate by phone.

Normally no problem for this type of problem --computers DO break - fortunately not too often.

Cheers
jimbo